Chapter 392: Chapter 377: Great Ambitions! [Full Subscription Requested]
Half a year turned into a year, and when Zhouyang completed the "Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique" and emerged, nearly two years had passed since he returned to the Zhou Family.
"Ninth Uncle, Sect Leader Zhang of the Yellow Sand Sect sent an invitation last month, inviting you and Aunt to attend Elder Jiang Yuyan’s four hundred and fifty-year birthday celebration at the Yellow Sand Sect!"
In Qianyang Cave, upon learning of Zhouyang’s emergence, Zhou Guangxiang hurried to pay his respects and report an important matter.
"Oh, Jiang Yuyan is holding a birthday celebration?"
Zhouyang took the crimson invitation Zhou Guangxiang handed over and saw that it was indeed handwritten by Zhang Yunpeng, with the magical imprints of both Zhang Yunpeng and Jiang Yuyan, making it authentic.
"Purple Mansion cultivators supposedly have a lifespan of five hundred years, but those who live to the age of five hundred are few, and even though Jiang Yuyan has refined the [Outer Dao Golden Core], it’s likely she won’t die of old age."
"In other words, her deadline is approaching quickly!"
"In that case..."
Zhouyang’s eyes flickered with insight, as he contemplated the invitation held in his hand.
Although the Yellow Sand Sect has recently gained a new Purple Mansion cultivator, even with this addition, the total number of Purple Mansion cultivators in the Yellow Sand Sect amounts to only four.
Supporting a sect with four Purple Mansion cultivators is far from easy compared to supporting a clan with just one Purple Mansion cultivator.
Among these four, Jiang Yuyan, who has refined the "Outer Dao Golden Core," is undoubtedly the pillar holding up the entire sect.
If Jiang Yuyan were to pass away, relying on Zhang Yunpeng alone, who barely has a lifespan of a century at the Ninth Layer of the Purple Mansion, along with Yang Xiong at the Fourth Layer of the Purple Mansion and Xiao Ming at the Early-Stage Purple Mansion, it would be even harder to sustain the vast enterprise of the Yellow Sand Sect.
"If I present that treasure as a gift to Zhang Yunpeng, in exchange for Jiang Yuyan’s assistance with a major task, and while I’m at it, ask for a complete puppetry technique inheritance from the Yellow Sand Sect, I wonder if he would agree?"
Zhouyang’s mind raced with thoughts as he suddenly turned to Zhou Guangxiang and asked, "Guangxiang, how is the recruitment of Guest Elder cultivators proceeding? How many Water and Wood cultivation technique practitioners have we recruited so far?"
"Reporting to Ninth Uncle, after our family’s deliberate promotion, the recruitment of Guest Elder cultivators has spread throughout the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm. However, due to inconvenient travel to the Red Tiger Mountain Oasis, the family has only recruited 46 Guest Elder cultivators, all of whom are at the lowest Third-class Guest Elder level."
"Out of these 46, 37 are specifically instructed by Ninth Uncle and are Water and Wood cultivation technique cultivators, with the lowest cultivation level being Fourth-Layer Qi Cultivation!"
Zhou Guangxiang explained the situation with his usual meticulousness.
However, Zhouyang was not quite pleased with this answer.
His expression changed slightly as he shook his head and said, "Too few people. Even though Water and Wood cultivation technique practitioners are rare in the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm, there shouldn’t be only this few."
With hesitation flashing across his face, Zhouyang quickly seemed to make a decision and said with determination, "In addition to continuing to recruit, spread a message saying that our Zhou Family is offering high prices to hire Water and Wood cultivation technique practitioners to develop an oasis. Both Foundation Establishment cultivators and Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators can apply to join the employment queue."
"For cultivators joining our Zhou Family’s employment queue, besides receiving an annual fixed spirit stone salary upon official engagement, they can also learn unique spells for free, and as long as they serve for ten years, these spells can be passed down to their descendants!"
Upon hearing these words, Zhou Guangxiang’s expression abruptly changed as he couldn’t help but exclaim, "Why go to such lengths! Ninth Uncle, why go to such lengths!"
"What plan could you possibly have to be willing to pay such a hefty price without hesitation!"
He looked at Zhouyang with a face full of confusion and anxiety.
Since Zhouyang began relaxing the Guest Elder recruitment conditions, he has harbored these doubts, but he has always trusted Zhouyang, believing that Zhouyang wouldn’t ask him to do anything unnecessary.
However, hearing these words from Zhouyang now, he couldn’t help but ask.
Because if he truly did as Zhouyang suggested, the cost of hiring cultivators for the Zhou Family would amount to an astronomical sum of spirit stones.
With such a significant matter, as the Patriarch of the Zhou Family, he couldn’t help but ask the real reason; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare easily agree to this.
"Fine, this matter should indeed be made known to you as the patriarch!"
Zhouyang looked at his confused and anxious nephew, sighed lightly, and proceeded to convey the reason to him through transmission.
And upon hearing his explanation, Zhou Guangxiang’s expression immediately turned several shades, his eyes widening immensely.
After Zhouyang finished transmitting, Zhou Guangxiang stood stunned for nearly half an hour before finally coming to his senses, nodding heavily and saying, "Nephew understands, please rest assured Ninth Uncle, I will surely do my utmost with this matter!"
"Then proceed with the tasks, and also send a message for Huang Yi to see me."
Zhouyang nodded slightly, giving him a new instruction.
The Huang Family that Huang Yi founded is situated right on top of the Red Tiger Mountain Oasis, and although he received Zhouyang’s permission to establish the family, he has not relinquished his position as the Zhou family’s Honored Guest Elder.
After receiving Zhou Guangxiang’s message, he hurriedly controlled his sword to rush to Red Tiger Mountain to pay respects to Zhouyang.
"Fellow Daoist Huang, do you still remember the route to Rhino Horn Continent?"
In Qianyang Cave, as soon as Huang Yi finished his salute, Zhouyang directly stated the reason for summoning him.
Hearing this sudden inquiry, Huang Yi was visibly taken aback, then quickly replied, "Returning to the Supreme Elder, I do remember, but I’m afraid it might not be accurate or complete."
"A little inaccuracy doesn’t matter; I have a map here for you to compare with. I have an important task for you to accomplish, and as long as you complete it successfully, I will grant your Huang Family a Foundation Establishment Pill!"
Zhouyang nodded slightly, straightforwardly enticing Huang Yi with great benefits without wasting words.
As his cultivation advanced, dealing with cultivators at Huang Yi’s Foundation Establishment Stage, he found it unnecessary to play mind games; direct communication sufficed.
This is the privilege of high-level cultivators over lower ones; being direct when needing something from a lower-tier cultivator.
Indeed, upon hearing the words "Foundation Establishment Pill," Huang Yi’s breath immediately became heavy, panting loudly.
During the years Zhouyang was absent, having been permitted to establish his own family, he took in numerous concubines, begetting hundreds of offspring over a decade or so.
Fortunately, the "Earth Guarding Golden Body Technique" he practiced was a dual path of magic and body, making him much more resilient than ordinary cultivators, preventing him from harming himself amidst such a vigorous procreation movement.
Out of hundreds of descendants, naturally, a few possessed spiritual roots, and even one with a middle-grade spiritual root appeared.
With offspring to consider, Huang Yi was naturally concerned about their growth and cultivation. He didn’t want the Huang Family to vanish in his absence due to lack of successors.
For these years, while busy with his "procreation movement," he diligently nurtured those children with spiritual roots, aiming to make them the backbone of the Huang Family’s future development.
Since Zhouyang needed Huang Yi to handle matters, he was naturally aware of Huang Yi and the Huang Family’s experiences over the years, fully understanding what Huang Yi urgently needed now.
A Foundation Establishment Pill, if used well, could solidify the Huang Family’s foundation as a Foundation Establishment Clan.
Ambitious as he was, Huang Yi found this temptation irresistible!
"Supreme Elder, please instruct me. No matter the dangers, I am at your disposal!"
Huang Yi’s resolve crumbled before the allure of the Foundation Establishment Pill; his eyes burned with fervent determination.
For Huang Yi, who achieved Foundation Establishment without the pill, he was acutely aware of the difficulties involved without it.
His success was considered a stroke of luck, a blessing from the heavens, perhaps using up most of his lifetime fortune.
Moreover, he never assumed that just because he succeeded, his children would succeed in the future.
For instance, in the past decade alone, three to four Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivators in the Zhou Family attempted Foundation Establishment without the pill, all failing and perishing at the stage.
Therefore, if he could secure a Foundation Establishment Pill for his children, no matter the life-threatening task Zhouyang assigned, he would undertake it.
"What I need you to do is simple: take the Elemental Magnetic Traction Array Plate I’m giving you, travel to Rhino Horn Continent, and along the way, find water sources suitable for creating artificial oases at intervals of five to ten thousand miles, bury the array plate there, and mark the locations."
"I’ll give you five years at most to complete this task."
"Once you complete it and return, I guarantee that you will receive a Foundation Establishment Pill!"
Zhouyang looked at Huang Yi, his expression serious as he slowly revealed his true purpose for summoning him.
Despite being partially prepared after hearing Zhouyang, Huang Yi was still shocked, his eyes nearly popping out.
"Senior, are you intending to occupy the Rhino Horn Continent?"
Astounded, he blurted out, throat moving, unable to hold back his exclamation.
"This is not your concern. Just do as I instructed," Zhouyang coldly glanced at him, seemingly warning against indiscreet remarks.
Huang Yi felt a chill upon his words, promptly slapped himself hard, hastily saying, "Yes, it was presumptuous of me. Please rest assured, Supreme Elder, I will keep my mouth sealed and fulfill the task you assigned!"
With the restraint of the "Nether Blood Contract," Zhouyang wasn’t worried about him acting against the Zhou Family’s interest. He waved his sleeve and said, "Go home and prepare to bid farewell to your family for now. In about half a month, Guangxiang will have the Elemental Magnetic Traction Array Plates ready; he will notify you to collect them in due time."